---
title: Claude Opus vs Sonnet — Which to Use
description: "Opus or Sonnet? A practical guide to picking the right Claude model for coding and agents — and using both on one apiToken.sale key and balance."
url: https://apitoken.sale/docs/learn/claude-opus-vs-sonnet
language: en
---

# Claude Opus vs Sonnet: which model to use

Opus and Sonnet solve different problems. Choosing well is the easiest way to get better results and spend fewer tokens — and you can keep both on one key.

## Use Sonnet by default

Sonnet 5 and Sonnet 4.6 handle the vast majority of coding and agent work quickly and cost-effectively. Start here.

## Escalate to Opus for hard problems

Reach for Opus 4.8 on complex refactors, architecture, and long high-stakes sessions where extra reasoning pays for itself.

> Because one key covers both, you can route each task to the right tier without juggling providers.

|  | Claude Opus 4.8 | Claude Sonnet 5 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Official price (in / out per 1M) | $5 / $25 | $3 / $15 |
| Here from −60% | $2 / $10 | $1.20 / $6 |
| Context window | 1M tokens | 1M tokens |
| Best for | Hard reasoning, long agent runs | Everyday coding and agents |

[Compare all Claude models and prices](/models)

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is better for coding?

Sonnet is the recommended default for daily coding; use Opus for complex reasoning and long refactors.

### Can I use both on one account?

Yes. Opus, Sonnet and Haiku all share the same key and prepaid balance.

---
Get a key: https://apitoken.sale/register
More guides: https://apitoken.sale/docs/learn